Smelting apparatus



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,912 (2. E. GLESSNER SMELT I NG APPARATUS Filed June 1927 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES E. GLESSNER,

OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

SMELTIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed June 9, 1927. Serial No. 197,597.

This invention relates generally to the separation of metals from their ores, with special reference to such metals as mercury, tin, and similar metals which require the employment of a relatively low degree of heat in the smelting proc efss.

The first object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efficient form of smelter in which the metal is separated from the gangue.

The second object is to so construct the smelter that all of the ore will be thoroughly treated before it can pass from the smelter.

The third object is to so construct the I smelter that there will be practically no loss arising from volatilization.

The fourth object is to so construct the smelter that the working parts will be protected, as far as possible, from the heat.

The fifth object is to provide a special form of collector for the extracted metal, and also to provide means for salvaging. metal in the form of a vapor, or in fine particles which might otherwise be carried off and wasted.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the smelter of which Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 22 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic section of a modified form of the device showing how the metal can be further separated.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a foundation 1O on whose raised portion 11 is mounted an outer shell 12 of the smelter. The shell 12 is preferably lined with refractory 13. Within the lined shell 12 and mounted on the raised portion 11 is a metal collector 14 which is an annular trough whose outer wall 15 is somewhat higher than its inner wall 16. In the foundation 10 is mounted a bearing 17 which is further supported by the structural I beams 18. It is preferable to supply the bearing 17 with a. water pocket 19, above which is formed a stuffing box for the gland 20 which receives the lower end of the shaft 21 whose upper end is carried by the bearing 22. Rotar movement is supplied to the shaft 21 by the gears 23 which connect the shaft 21 and the horizontal shaft 24, to which motion is supplied through the pulley 25. The shaft 24 journals in the bearings 26.

On the shaft 21 is formed a rounded shoulder 27 from which is hung the cylindrical extractor 28 by means of the spokes 29 whose hub 30 is clamped to the shoulder 27 with sufficient looseness to allow the shell 28 to find its own center. A pin 30A engages tht slot 30B for driving purposes.

The shell 28 is provided with a plurality of inwardly turned flanges 31 between which the metal is held by the centrifugal action of the extractor and across which metal the gangue floats downwardly toward the collector. 4

On the shaft 21 is also mounted a fan consisting of the two hubs 32 across which are secured the vertical blades 33. Underneath the fan and secured to the shaft 21 is mounted a spreader cone 33-A whose function it is to throw the angue outwardly away from the bearing 17 and to protect the air outlet duct 34 which discharges into the blower 35-A.

Under the spreader 33A is formed a recess 35 which extends downwardly into the foundation 10 and is provided with an overflow 36. A valve-controlled water supply pipe 37 furnishes flowing water to the cavity 35. A cleanout pipe 38 is provided at the bottom of the cavity 35 and has, on its lower end, a flanged cover 39 which can be removed when it is desired to take out the settlings, which consist mostly of metal which would otherwise have been carried away with the dust and gas.

The outer wall 15 of the collector 14 is provided with a trapped outlet pipe 40 through which the metal 41 can flow into the receptacle 42. A burner 43 is provided under the outlet pipe 40 to prevent the solidifying of the metal before it has escaped from the pipe 40.

Over the extractor 28 is formed a funnel 44 into which crushed ore 45 is fed by the screw 46 in the tube 47. The shaft 48 of the screw 46 is provided with a pulley 49 through which it is driven, and the shaft 48 is supported on its outer end by means of a bearing 50. A'hopper 51 is mounted over the intake end of the screw 46.

From the blower 35A extends an air supply pipe 52 which discharges through the opening 53 in the top of the tube 47. It is preferable to turn a flange 54 in front of the opening 53 to direct the air currents toward the funnel 44.

The inside of the wall 15 is provided with vertical retarding flanges 54-A for the purpose of reducing the rotary motion of the metal within the metal collector 14. Near the lower portion of each flange 54-A is formed a circular recess 55 in which is placed a ball 56 for the purpose of preventing excess lateral movement of the lower end of the extractor shell 28. An auxiliary casing 57 is secured to the under side of the tube 47 and contains the burners 58 for heating the ore in the tube 47. Other burners 59 are provided for the purpose of heating the collector 14 and the extractor shell 28.

It is also preferable to provide an upper deflector 33B for the purpose of spreading the crushed ore around the outer portion of the extractor 28.

In Figure 5 is shown, diagrammatically, how metals of difierent specific gravity may, after having been separated from the gangue, be further separated with relation to each other by employing divisions 60 in the metal collector 61. In this case the inner and outer compartments thus formed must be connected b a passage 62 so that the lighter metal 63 can be drawn oil through the pipe 64 and the heavier metal 65 can be drawn ofl' through the pipe 66, whereas the gangue passes off as in the first mentioned form of the device.

The operation of the device is as follows: Crushed ore 45 is placed in the hopper 51 and is fed into the extractor 28. The air current and revolving blades 33 throw same outwardly with centrifugal force in a manner to separate the metal from the gan e. The metal, bein heavier of course, will lie close to the insi 'e of the shell 28, and, as it overflows from one to the next annular compartment formed between the flanges 31, finally finds its way into the metal collector 14. The gangue being lighter floats along the metal and is projected into the water in the recess 35.

It will be noted that air is constantly drawn from the lower end of the extractor and discharged back into the ore su ply tube 47, and that all metal striking tii be precipitated therein from whence it can be salvaged through the pipe 38.

I claim:

1. A smelter having a centrifugal extractor having a vertical axis and having annular grooves formed therein; a metal collector at the lower end of said extractor forming a seal therefor; means for circulating air downwardly through said extractor; and means for feeding crushed ore uniformly into the top of said extractor.

2. A smelter having an upright cylindrical extractor having means for rotating same; a metal collector consisting of a circular trough into which the lower end of said extractor projects; and means for carrying ofl the gangue from said extractor consisting of a water-containing .receptacle having trap means within for the collection of precipitated metals.

CHARLES E. GLESSNER.

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